Thursday, June 29, 2006

Bachelor God and A Woman

The Telegraph, Kolkata, reports
Kerala’s leading Hindu shrine, the hill temple of Sabarimala, welcomes people from all faiths — unless they happen to be women aged between 10 and 50.

An admission by two women celebrities — actress Jayamala and dancer Sudha Chandran — that they had climbed the hill and worshipped there has now shaken up the priests.
The reason women aged between 10 and 50 are prohibited from entering the temple is that Lord Ayyappa, to whom the temple is dedicated, was a confirmed bachelor. I think this tradition of prohibiting women is ridiculous. I am glad that I am a non-believer, who foolishly believes that God is an invention of man.

Forward: Management Lessons

Got the following forward by email. It is quite good.

A Professor at one of the IIM's (INDIA) was explaining marketing concepts to the Students:-

1.You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say: "I am very rich. Marry me!" - That's Direct Marketing

2. You're at a party with a bunch of friends and see a gorgeous girl.One of your friends goes up to her and pointing at you says: "He's very rich. Marry him." - That's Advertising

3. You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and get her telephone number. The next day, you call and say: "Hi, I'm very rich. Marry me." - That's Telemarketing

4. You're at a party and see gorgeous girl. You get up and straighten your tie, you walk up to her and pour her a drink, you open the door (of the car)for her, pick up her bag after she drops it, offer her ride and then say: "By the way, I'm rich. Will you marry me?" - That's Public Relations

5. You're at a party and see gorgeous girl. She walks up to you and says: "You are very rich! Can you marry ! me?" - That's Brand Recognition

6. You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say: "I am very rich. Marry me!" She gives you a nice hard slap on your face. - That's Customer Feedback

7. You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say: "I am very rich. Marry me!" And she introduces you to her husband. - That's demand and supply gap

8. You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and before you say anything, another person come and tell her: "I'm rich. Will you marry me?" and she goes with him - That's competition eating into your market share

9. You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and before you say: "I'm rich, Marry me!" your wife arrives. - That's restriction for entering new markets

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Arguing about arguing

Charlie Brooker, who is a columnist for The Guardian, had written a article about flags. It got posted in the Comments is Free section of the Guardian Unlimited website. Some commentators found this article funny, some ridiculous, and it wasn't long before rival posters began speculating about the size of their opponent's dicks. This article and the comments makes for very funny reading.

A follow up article to this post, which says that online debate is pointless, is also funny. Here is a extract from the article: An unfortunate few, hooked on the futile thrill of online debate, devote their lives to its cause. They roam the internet, actively seeking out viewpoints they disagree with, or squat on messageboards, whining, needling, sneering, over-analysing each new proclamation - joylessly fiddling, like unhappy gorillas doomed to pick lice from one another's fur for all eternity.

Tumse Milke

Yesterday I happen to spot this wonderful CD `Tumse Milke' of Raul Dev Burman at Planet M. It is a 2-CD pack and has 28 little gems from unkown movies of RD. I had purchased casette version of this CD a few years ago and had loved all the songs on it. I had been looking for the CD version of Tumse Milke for sometime now, but could not find it anywhere. It is customary for me now to purchase new CDs of Panchamda on January 4 and June 27 every year. Normally I go to Rhythm House to look for new CDs of Panchamda. But since it was raining quite heavily yesterday in Mumbai, I decided to try my luck at Planet M, near CST station, Mumbai. I was lucky to spot this twin-CD pack there. Oh how happy it made me. The real fun of being a RD fan is that there are so many films of his (292 to be exact) that one can look forever to update one's collection of his songs. There are still many many movies of RD, whose songs either on CD or casette form, are not available, including the movies the songs of which are included in this CD pack. The song list of this CD pack is given below. If you, like me are a Pancham fan, then Tumse Milke is highly recommended.

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Saagar Kinaare

The place where I work has a beautiful seashore. Today the weather was lovely. It had rained in the morning, but had stopped in the noon. The following two photographs were taken by a dear friend of mine at the Saagar Kinare today.

This is me admiring the sea, and the song playing in my head is Panchamda's Saagar Kinare from the movie Saagar . Such a beautiful song.



Another picure of angry Arabian Sea.

Happy Birthday Panchamda

Rahul Dev Burman (June 27, 1939 -- January 4, 1994)

Today (June 27) is the 67th birthday of Rahul Dev Burman. Happy Birthday, Panchamda.

Yesterday I read two lovely posts in the Pancham eGroup sent by Jose Flores, who had written lyrics for the Pantera, the only english album composed by R.D. Burman, to Vinay Jain, co-ordinator for of the Pancham eGroup. The posts are reproduced below.



Dear Vinay:

Thank you for your invitation. Puncham and I were very close and
we had a great time working together. I learned a great deal about
life and not just music.
I have a few stories but dont know where to start.

Puncham was the funniest person I had ever met and he made me laugh
all the time.

On the same day he arrived in San Francisco, Puncham gave me a gift
of some traditional clothes, (silks) that he had brought with him
( a Kurta and a Loongi) and some sandles. Later on that evening we
were at his suite at the hotel with our producer Pete Gavankar...and
the producer suggested I try on the silks. Puncham was hungry and
had changed from travel clothing to the same kind of clothing (
Loongi and Kurta) By then I had tried on the silks and thought they
were really cool...SInce He also had the same clothes and felt
comfortable he said well lets go eat... I said dressed like this
and Puncham said yes... lets go just like this...so we put on some
sandles and while still dressed in the silks went out on the town
to the most exclusive, expensive and fanciest seafood restaurant in
San Francisco where we told the Tuxedo wearing staff that Puncham
was the crown prince of Bombay... we got the best service I have
ever had ....and they refferred to him as your Royal Highness
during the whole meal...and you know what he really was a prince so
it was fun... he really impressed everyone including the owner who
personally came to ask for his autograph... We laughed about that
dinner every chance we got whan we talked about it.

Later on a few years ago, Asha came to San Francisco and we had
lunch at the same place... we sat at he same table and remembered
Puncham fondly...

I really miss the guy...

Thanks

keep in touch

Jose Flores



Hi Vinay.

Well I am glad you got the reply I wrote I did not know if it went
through.

Yes I know it is Punchams birthday in a few days. I always remember
him on that day and on the other day.

Well I have to think about some of the things that were going on
but one funny thing happened. It was when Puncham walked out of
the recording studio and no one knew where he was for about 8 hours
when decided to take a self guided tour of the City. I guess he was
waking around downtown San Francisco. Of course we were recording in
the downtown area of the City and the area is urban and sometimes
quite risky especially if you dont know which sections are bad or
good. However, Puncham fit right in with the City scene and always
looked cool so no one ever messed with him. In fact he was usually
greeted by people as if they knew him everywhere we went. So later
on several hours we were all in front of the studio and it was
getting dark when he pulled up in a taxi cab loaded with bags of
clothing, shoes, shirts and jackets inside shopping bags from some
of the best stores and tailors in the City . The producer Pete
Gavankar was so relieved when he saw him that he almost cried..
Puncham just cracked up at us and showed off his new grey Members
Only Jacket which he was wearing and said...dont worry Im a City
boy I know my way around... every one had to help him carry his bags
back into the studio about 20 bags in all. It took the cabbie five
min to unload...I think he gave the cabbie two $20.00 bills or like
a $40.00 tip on top of his $ 5 fare and the cabbie was all
smiles..

That was Puncham, drama, generosity, style... what a guy.

I think it is time for a toast to my friend with double Johnny
Walker and 555 cigarette while I listen to him sing a Gypsy song...

Thanks and keep in touch.

JF

Monday, June 26, 2006

How To Make A Woman Happy

It is not difficult to make a woman happy. Click here to find out.

Krrish - A walk in the air

Last Sunday I saw the movie Krrish with my family. It was billed as a sequel to Koi Mil Gaya, which was released a few years ago.

If you tell a person the painting is wet, he will touch it to confirm it. If you tell a person about aliens in the outer space and that they are intelligent than us, dwellers of the Earth, he will readily believe you. Rakesh Roshan had exploited this fact to the hilt in the movie Koi Mil Gaya, in which aliens from space visit Earth and one of them who is left behind, befriend hero of that film, who is mentally challenged and gifts him extraordinary powers. It was a direct lift of E.T. I had seen Koi Mil Gaya with family. My kids, as they have not seen E.T., had loved it. Roshan carries forward this formula in Krrish. The hero of Koi Mil Gaya has now a son, who quite naturally, inherits all the extraordinary powers of his father.

The plotline of the movie is quite thin. Krishna alias Krrish (Hrithik Roshan) lives with his grandmother in a hilly place. Since he is blessed with high IQ and other extraordinary qualities, his grandmother wants to protects him from the world. Enter the heroine of the movie Priya (Priyanka Chopra) who is on paragliding cum adventure trip to the mountains with her friends. He, predictably saves her from a fall and immediately falls in love. Priya is a TV journalist working with Star TV in Singapore and invites Krishna for her selfish motives to Singapore. There Krishna becomes Krrish to save children from circus fire and also to take revange from the villian of the movie, who has keept his father in captivity for 20 years. The special effects or special prowess of Hrithik are on display towards the last 20 minutes of the movie, which are quite good and a novelty for the Hindi movies. Though, they seems to be lifted from some Hollywood or Hong Kong martial arts movies.

There are various holes in the script for example it is told that father of Krrish is in captivity for last 20 years, that make Krrish only 19 years old. Also, in a flashback scene which is supposed to have taken place 20 years ago, a mobile phone is shown. I think the mobile phones are not that old. At least in India they were introduced about 10 years ago. I think 20 years is a favourite phrase of writers of Hindi movies. Bees saal also sound good.

I spotted various endorsement of brands just to keep me occupied during the movie: Bournvita (gets also mentioned in a dialogue), Tide, Lays Chips, Hero Honda, Bombay Circus, Samsung and Star TV.

In movie Hrithik flies in the air, climbes trees faster than a orangutan, sets bones, plays a fireman, discoman, runs faster than a horse, catches fish with bare hands, etc. etc. Towards the end of the movie he also stop not one but two bullets. He is superhero, after all. He is Superman, Batman, Spiderman, Discoman, Tarzan all in one.

Krissh is indeed strictly for the kids. It will also be seen by the adults who will be dragged into cinemas by their childrens, like I was. The film was quite long (about 3 hours) and had no hummable songs. Comedey was conspicuous by absence. After making Hrithik a super-hero, Director Rakesh Roshan should have also created a super-villian for Hritihik to fight with. The villian of the movie is mad scientist played tounge in cheek by Naseeruddin Shah, who wants to invent a computer which can foretell future. He is the only one to provide some comic relief.

The film for me was boringly tedious or tediously boring. I am not sure which one it was. But it certainly was one of them.

A funny review of Krrish is here.

Unconscious Mutterings -- Week 177

Unconscious Mutterings Week 177

  1. Newspaper :: Print

  2. Crucify :: Sacrifice

  3. Sausage :: Yummy

  4. Handy :: Nearby

  5. Cloak :: Hide

  6. Drunk :: Men

  7. Fuel :: Petrol

  8. Caress :: Touch

  9. Itch :: Scratch

  10. Vehicle :: Bus

Friday, June 23, 2006

Quotes for the Weekend

You have only to mumble a few words in church to get married and few words in your sleep to get divorced. -- Anon.

MARRIAGE, n.
The state or condition of a community consisting of a master, a mistress and two slaves, making in all, two. -- The Devil's Dictionary

Facts about me ...

I have been tagged again, by my blogging friend Kusum Rohra.


Tagging nowdays is like little extortion among blogging friends. So here I go, some facts about myself. Some of them are unknown to me, as no one has bother to ask me about them.

My Accent: Typical sindhi accent.

Booze: Foster's beer, anytime. Though sometime I prefer gin with tonic.

Chore I Hate: Sorting laundry. My wife make me do it every day.

Dog or Cat: Dog. A dog's expression is priceless, almost matches with expression of hapless husband. A husband's life is a dog's life anyway, except for the promiscuity.

Essential Electronics: My iPod, my Cellphone and my Music System. Can't live without them.

Perfume: None. Since I am an Indian male, I will tell you which talcum talc I use: It is Pond's (Sandal perfume) jo rakhe aap ko hardam fresh.

Gold or Silver: Silver. Gold is out of reach.

Home: Ulhasngar. Viva Ulhasnagar, I love the city.

Insomnia: Never had. I usually had dreamless sleep.

Job Title: Assistant Administrative Officer (that is what my office ID card says). Though most of the time I administer myself.

Living Arrangements: Live with two children and one wife at our sweet home in Ulhasnagar.

Most Admirable Traits: Honesty and sense of humour.

Number of Sexual Partners: 1921*

Number of times in hospital: Two. One -- My mother had told me that I was born in a hospital and second -- last year my father had a mild heart attack and I had to spent a few nights with him. I am generally scared of doctors and hospitals and keep away from them. For me an apple or banna a day to keep the doctor away.

Phobias: I am scared of rats.

Quote: ``In the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.''. This quote is by Paul McCartney of The Beatles.

Religion: Humanity. period.

Siblings: Four sisters none brother.

Time I Wake Up: Alarm clock goes at 5:30 a.m. I actually wake up at about 5:50 a.m. after much persuasion by my wife, who wakes up quite early. The reason I wake up at such an unearthly hour is I have to leave at 7:00 a.m. for my office which starts at 9:00 a.m. On Saturdays and Sundays I wake up at 9:00 a.m. after loud yelling by my wife. Bless her, if it was not for her, I would sleep away the weekends.

Unusual Talent or Skill: I can needle the thread, which my wife always ask me to do for her and I think she secretly admires me for this.

Vegetable I Love: bottle gourd also called lauki or kadoo. It is available round the year and is invariably cheap.

Worst Habit: Indecisive. I take lot of time if I am given two options to choose from.

X-Rays, Last time: None, If I remember correctly.

Yummy Food I Make: Sabzi of lauki or kadoo (bottle gourd) I had blogged about it some time ago.

Zodiac Sign: Libra. Born in the month of October, a day after a famous person.

People tagged to do it: Bill Gates, George Bush, Sonia Gandhi, Navjot Singh Siddhu etc. etc. Or any blogger eager to tell above facts about himself / herself is most welcome.

* = This is actually the number of hits my blog had got till date since I started the hit counter in April this year. French writer Georges Simenon claimed to have 10,000 sexual partners in his lifetime. Lucky guy.

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Five Sachinda Songs

Sachin Dev Burman was in my opinion, the greatest music composer of Hindi films. His compositions made the Hindi films songs popular. His tunes were so simple yet so unforgettable. I read somewhere that Sachinda started the trend of first composing a tune and then lyrics writer setting the words to fit the tune. Previously it was other way round. This trend is still followed by the present day music composer of Hindi film. Sachinda composed for about 88 Hindi films and was active very much till his death in 1975. His peppy songs always made me happy and smile and his sad songs made me shade a tear. The following are the five Sachinda songs which are closer to my heart. I listen to them as often as I can. Thank you Sachinda for the unforgettable songs. Here is the list:
  • Puuchho naa kaise maine rain bitaai ik pal jaise, ik yug biita from the movie Meri Surat Teri Aankhen, sung by Manna Dey and lyrics by Shailendra. This song is based on raag Ahir Bhairav. I read somewhere that Sachinda made Manna Dey sing this song for fifty times before he was satisified with it. It is the most beautiful song and is quite difficult to sing. Only Manna Dey could have sung it. Mere words cannot describe this song, one has to listen it again and again.

  • Phuulon ke rang se, dil kii kalam se from the movie Prem Pujari, sung by Kishore Kumar and lyrics by Neeraj. In my opinion this is the most romantic song ever. Anyone who is in love or has been in love, can relate quite easily with this song. It was written by famous Hindi poet Gopaldas Neeraj, who had written for very few films and most of them had been with Sachinda. Prem Pujari had quite a few wonderful songs shokhiyon mein gholaa jaaye, phuulon kaa shabaab, rangeelra ra, but this song is my favouite. It had such a beautiful words and wonderful tune:

    phuulon ke ranng se, dil kii kalam se
    tujhako likhii roz paatii
    kaise bataauuN, kis kis tarah se
    pal pal mujhe tuu sataatii
    tere hii sapane, lekar ke soyaa
    terii hii yaado.n mein jaagaa
    tere khayaalo.n mein ulajhaa rahaa yuuN
    jaise ke maalaa mein dhaagaa

    haaN, baadal bijalii chandan paanii jaisaa apanaa pyaar
    lenaa hogaa janam hamen, ka_ii ka_ii baar
    haaN, itanaa madir, itanaa madhur teraa meraa pyaar
    lenaa hogaa janam hamen, ka_ii ka_ii baar

  • Ruup teraa, mastaanaa, pyaar meraa diiwaanaa from the movie Aradhana, sung by Kishore Kumar and lyrics by Aanad Bakshi. It is the most seductive song in Hindi films, and sung so well by Kishore Kumar. The movie Aradhana really made Sachinda and Kishore Kumar famous. This song also won for Kishoreda his first of many Filmfare awards. Aradhana had many wonderful song Mere sapnon ki ranee kabh ayee gee tu, Kora kagaz tha ye man mera. One of the song Safal hogi tere aradhana was sung by Sachinda himself and he was awarded National Award for the best playback singer that year.

  • Ab to hain tum se from the movie Abhiman, sung by Lata Mangeshkar, lyrics by Majrooh. Lataji had sung many wonderful songs for Sachinda, but this song is my favourite. This movie won for Sachinda his second Filmfare award. It is very difficult to believe that genius composer like Sachinda was given only two Filmfare awards, one for Taxi Driver in 1953 and the second one for Abhiman in 1973. This song has lovely guitar strums in the beginning, which is quite unusual for a Sachinda song, as his songs had the minimal orchestration.

  • Din Dhal jaaye haay, raat naa jaay from the movie Guide, sung by Mohd. Rafi and lyrics by Shailendra. No mention of Hindi music can be complete without mentioning music of movie Guide. It had awesome songs. Each one of it worth its weight in gold. My favourite from this movie is this song. The video of this song is below. Rafisaab had never sounded so melodious. Dil dhal jaaye haay, rat naa jaay, tuu to na aae terii, yaad sataaye






Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Five Pancham Songs

Though I like almost all the songs composed by my favourite Rahul Dev Burman, there are few songs which are closer to my heart. The following are the five songs which I cannot live without. If they happen to play on the radio, I just stop and listen. No need to mention that they are very much on my iPod. I do not know why I am partial to these songs. Thank you Panchamda for composing such beautiful songs for us.

So here go the list :
  • Kitne Bhi Tu Karle Sitam (from movie Sanaam Teri Kasam). Though the Kishoe Kumar version of this song is famous, I personally like the Asha Bhosle version of the song. I read somewhere that Panchamda, whose hobby was cooking, was at home of this song's lyricist, Gulshan Bawra. Pancham was in the kitchen learning from Mrs Bawra how to cook a particular dish, while Mrs Bawra was humming a tune. Pancham liked the tune and inspired by this tune, had made this song. Sanam Teri Kasam won for RD his first of the three Filmfare Awards. Superb song.

  • Poochho na yaar kya huwa from movie Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai. This song is sung by Asha Bhosle and Mohd. Rafi. It is a great song. It is sung beautifully, and tune of the song is just mesmerising.

  • Kuchh to log kahenge from the movie Amar Prem. This movie had unforgettable songs Chingari koi bhadke, Yeh kya hua, kaise hua, Raina beeti jaaye. But I personally like Kuch to log kahenge. Its lyrics are simple and meaningful, and is sung so well by Kishoe Kumar.

  • Jis gali mein tera ghar na from the movie Kati Patang, also had so many unforgetable songs Na koi umang hai, na koi tarang hai, Pyar diwana hota hai, Yeh jo mohabbat hai, Yeh sham mastani, but this song, which is sung by with such a feelings by Mukesh is my favourite. It is a sad song, and has beautiful words.

  • piyaa tuu ab to aa jaa from movie Caravan. It is a fantastic song, and very famous too. Nothing more need to be said about this song. The video of this song is below. Notice the fabulous prelude and interlude pieces in the song. It is sung by Asha Bhosle and RD himself, and lyrics are by Majrooh.


Today is the World Music Day. This is my small tribute to Panchamda who has given me so many moments of joy, by just listening to his wonderfule songs. I will do a longer post on his 67th birthday, which is on June 27.

Themes and Templates

I am using Mozilla Thunderbird for managing my various email accounts. I was not happy with the default theme for Thunderbird. My search for good theme ended with the wonderful theme Crossover. A screenshot of Crossover theme is here. I would recommend it those of you who use Thunderbird for email. A complementary theme for Mozilla Firefox is iFox. A screenshot of iFox theme is here. Both these themes are available here. Both these themes have look and feel of a Mac OS appliction.

For my blog template, I tried various template provided by The Blogspot, but did not seems to like them. My search for a good template for my blog has ended with Free Blogger Templates. I have modified Aqua template for my blog. I am now quite happy with this template.

Bad Day

Yesterday (Tuesday, June 20) was really a bad day for me. I had some nasty encounters with Rude and Arrogant people. I was upset with their behaviour. Why some people are so rude and arrogant. I am glad yesterday is over and today is a new day. I hope today, which is the day of the year with the longest daylight period and hence the shortest night, will be good day for me. Please God, save me from those rude and arrogant people. I was amused to see in today's paper that according to a survey done recently Mumbai (the city where I work, but thankfully do not live) is the rudest city in the world.

Monday, June 19, 2006

Cycling


I have been teaching cycling to my daguther, Namrata, who is 9, for many many days. Her cycle used to have two supporting wheels, and she was quite happy riding it, knowing well that she will not fall down due to the extra wheels. About a month ago, my wife and I decided that Namrata is now quite old to learn to cycle without these supporting wheels and had them removed. Since then, I had been teaching her how to cycle and how to keep one's balance. But I had not been successful so far. She has been afraid that she will fall down. It was quite natural reaction from her. We get used to so many things for support and comfort, and when suddenly one of them gets removed or is removed, we do feel quite at loss.

Well, I tried various tricks to teach her to cycle like mock anger, promising her treats of ice creams. I even rode her cycle to show that there is nothing to be afraid of and that she will not fall down. It is quite another matter that I got carried away riding her cycle and in the process did a little damage to the cycle. I even took her to the terrace of our building so that she can be spared of being watched by her friends.

Nothing seems to have worked. I was getting quite frustated. Yesterday I told her that today is the Father's Day and that the only gift I want from her is to see her cycle, and that all it require from her was little courage. Well, it seems to have worked. Within few minutes, she did learn to cycle and was able to do it without my support. In the end she enjoyed it so much that instead of the usual half an hour practice, she cycled for about one hour. And later in the day, she proudly told all her friends that she had learned to cycle and distributed cholcates among her friends.

Namrata, you made me proud of you on the Father's Day.

Still unhappy

A few days ago I had blogged that though I had got hold of 5 new CDs of Pancham, I was not able to listen to them, since my CD player had gone out of action.

Well, the engineer from Sony India did came last Saturday to look at the music system. And after opening the system and some elementary inspection, told me that various parts need to be replaced and the total cost will be between 2 to 3 thousand of rupees. I could not belive it, and I told him that the system is quite new and not even two years old. He told me, almost coolly that the their company (Sony India) know these parts wear out quite often and they keep upgrading the music system and one can see new models almost every year. Anyway, I told him thank you very much for your visit and I will think over about the whether I want to get it repaired from them or not.

Since the repairs charges by Sony are ridicuously high, I have given the music sytem to the local repairman. I have been promised that the my music system will be repaired within a week. So by next Sunday, hopefully, I will be able to hear the new 5 CDs of Panchamda.

Unconscious Mutterings -- Week 176

Unconscious Mutterings -- Week 176
  1. Voice :: Talk

  2. Us :: Them

  3. Passionately :: Love

  4. Humbly :: Request

  5. Love songs :: Melodious

  6. Dim :: Tubelight

  7. Calendar :: Year

  8. Careless :: Error

  9. Block :: Head

  10. Goal :: Football

Friday, June 16, 2006

Quotes for the Weekend

TALK, v.t.
To commit an indiscretion without temptation, from an impulse without purpose -- Ambrose Bierce (1842 - 1914),The Devil's Dictionary


Illusion is the first of all pleasures. -- Oscar Wilde


The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity. --Dorothy Parker

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Talk.com

I read somewhere that a man finishes off a telephone conversation in an average of 3 minutes, while a woman takes an average of 18 minutes to finish off a telephone conversation. It may be true if both the parties involved are of the same gender.

A few days ago my wife had called up her sister who lives in Pune. I decided to time out their conversation. And the conversation lasted for exactly 20 minutes and 15 seconds. A record for her. I told her about 3 v/s 18 minutes average conversation. She just laughed it off. Suddenly she remembered that she had forgotten to tell some very important thing to her sister and rushed again to the phone to call up her sister. Needless to say that her sister's phone was engaged as she also had forgotten something important to say to my wife and was calling her at the same time. I wonder what two woman, when they they got hold of each other on phone, talk about. God only knows. Or maybe HE also does not know.

Here is a little joke to illustrate the point that women just love to talk on phone:

A woman walked into the kitchen to find her husband stalking around with a fly swatter.

``What are you doing?'' she asked.

``Hunting flies,'' he responded.

``Oh. Kill any yet?'' she asked.

``Yes, 3 males and 2 females so far,'' he replied.

Intrigues, she asked, ``But how can you tell them apart?''

``Well,'' he responded ``3 were on a beer can, and 2 were on the phone.''

Hakuna matata



Hakuna matata from the movie The Lion King . Beautiful animation.

Few jokes ...

Few jokes which are not be taken seriously. If they amuses you, fine. If not, you may have lost your sense of humour.

What is the thinnest book in the world?

"What men know about women."

Single women claim that all the good men are married, while all married women complain about their lousy husbands.

This confirms that there is no such thing as a good man.

Your mama is so fat, when she bends over we go into daylight savings time.

What is the difference between a battery and a woman?

A battery has a positive side.

Why are husbands like lawn mowers?

They're hard to get started, emit foul odors, and don't work half the time.

Why are men like popcorn?

They satisfy you, but only for a little while.

Why do men chase women they have no intention of marrying?

For the same reason dogs chase cars they have no intention of driving.

At the cocktail party, one woman said to another, "aren't you wearing your wedding ring on the wrong finger?"

The other replied, "Yes I am, I married the wrong man."

Your mama is so poor, she can't even afford to pay attention.

What is the difference between God and a social worker?

God doesn't pretend to be a social worker.

A wealthy man came home from a gambling trip and told his wife that he had lost their entire fortune and that they'd have to drastically alter their life-style.

"If you'll just learn to cook," he said, "we can fire the chef."

"Okay," she said. "And if you learn how to make love, we can fire the gardener."

Source: jokes4all.net

Comic Football



Football is one of the most popular and spectacular game, as is shown by the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2006. It could also have some comic moments, as is shown in the above video.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Shabdkosh

Shabdkosh.com is a free online English Hindi Dictionary. You can look up the hindi equivalent of an English word by using this website. It is available at www.shabdkosh.com. It is quite good.

Nul* Ho Naa Ho

This has happened a few years ago. To be exact sometime in November 2003 when the movie Kal Ho Naa Ho was released. In those days we used to stay at Colaba, Mumbai, at the house provided by our Institute. Well, Kal Ho Naa Ho was a Karan Johar movie and its songs were being played everrywhere in radio and TV. My children and wife defintely wanted to see this movie. I was sure it will be a silly movie, like all Karan Johar's previous (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham) movies. But this particular movie had a particular incident linked to it which always bring back amusing memories to me.

We had gone to see this movie on a Saturday. Now on that particular day it was announced that, in our housing complex where we lived, there will be a water cut and so no water in the afternoon. I remember that day childen and my wife were quite excited to see this movie and I was despatched beforehand to procure the tickets for the movie at the Liberty cinema, which was the nearest theatre where it was being played. I had gone about two hours before to get the ticket for the 6 p.m. show, which I got easily. I called my wife to tell her so and they were to meet me near the theatre before 6:00 p.m.

We saw the movie, the only memories of that silly movie I had that Shah Rukh Khan took his own sweet time to die even after diagonised with some form of cancer. though he looked hale and hearty throughout the movie. Anyway, afterwards we had dinner at a restaurant which is bang opposite Liberty cinema and reached home at around 11:30 p.m.

On reaching home we saw our next door neighbour, who had never spoken to us earlier, though we have been living in the colony for about three months, had a frantic expression on her face and was at the ground floor of the building. She said oh where you have been, there is a disaster at your home. My wife got scared on hearing this, but I had noticed something else which was quite strange. Though our colony had some water shortage due to which water cut was imposed, the water seems to be coming out like mini waterfall from the staircase and had formed a small puddle on the ground floor. Oh, it struck me immediately ohmygod we had forgotten to turn off one of the water tap before leaving and this water which was coming like mini waterfall was actually coming from our third floor home. Well, what I thought was totally true. It seems my daughter had turned the water tap of the wash basin in the afternoon, when there was no water, and had forgotten to turn off the tap. The water was released after my wife and children had left home for the theatre. On opening our home we saw the most amusing sight. Our home has turned into literal waterworld. There was water and just water everywhere, in kitchen, drawing hall, bedrom, everywhere. Now all this water from the wash basin could easily have been drained on its own to bathroom draingage but our bathroom had old style water barrier of about two feets, which was meant to prevent water from bathroom leaking into the rooms. But this barrier had also prevented the water gushing out from the wash basin to drain out into the bathroom. The tap of wash basin was fully turned on, and the water pressure was so great that some water was being drained out from the drain outlet of the wash basin, but most of the water was overflowing from it and falling on the floor and to all the rooms. Now we had a hell of task to drain out the water, which was more than ankle deep. Unfortunately our children had kept their school bags on the floor and all their textbooks and particuarly notebooks had become watery and soggy. (These textbooks and notebooks had to be sun dried for severral days before they become little usable. The writen words on the notebooks had practically been erased by the mighty water.) After the blame game, we all had to cool down and begun working as a team to drain out all the water from rooms by using utensils, spoonging out water, using brooms, even kicking out the water. It was both amusing and sad. Sad because due to a small negligence, water, which I belive is a precious commodity, had gone waste. I remember we had to work hard till 2:00 a.m. in the night before we were able to drain out all the water from our home.

So, I remember the movie Kal Ho Naa Ho as Nul Ho Naa Ho. And needless to say now when we go out to see a movie, we ensure that all water taps are shut tight.

Nul*= water tap

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Happy but unhappy

I read the Pancham Yahoo Group reguarly. Last Friday I was thrilled to see a post informing that Universal India have released a combo pack of 5 CD containing full songs of the following R.D. Burman Films:
  1. Aamne Saamne/Shaukeen

  2. Arjun/Joshilaay

  3. Joshila/Dil Deewana

  4. Ghungroo Ki Awaaz/Apne Apne

  5. Jawani/Basera
5 CDs of 10 films, 64 songs, only at Rs. 199/-. Most of the above movies, except for Arjun, which was an ealier hit movie of Sunny Deol, are virtually unknown movies, but music-wise each movie is a minor classic, for Pancham fans. And the writer of the post had said the CDs has awesome recording. I was happy to see this announcement as I did not have CDs of any of the above films. Nothing is more joyous for Pancham fan like me, than to come across a CD of RD movie, which I did not have.

So last Friday, I went to a music shop, Music World, at Flora Fountain, along with printout of the post, and asked for this combo pack. But this was not available with them. I then tried the nearby music shop, Hiro Music House, in Foutain area, and there also this combo pack was not available. At both the shops I was informed that they can get it for me next Monday. Maybe they were impressed by the prinout of the post. I then finally tried my luck at the Planet M which is near CST station. And these CDs were available with them. I purchased it immediately. I felt happy, getting hold a 5 CDs of 10 movies at such a low price.

So as soon as I reached home, I played the CD No. 1 (that is of movie Aamne Saamne/Shaukeen) on my Sony Music System, which we had acquired about two years ago. The recording was just superb. Towards the end of the CD I noticed the song was skidding and there was a momentary pause while song was being played. It was obvious that few dust particles had got into the CD tray and it needed cleaning. In my enthusiasim to clean the CD tray thoroughly, I seems to have done something silly and the CD tray had got locked. It is neither opening nor playing a CD. It was really frustrating that I have 5 new CDs but I cannot play them.

I called the Sony Service Centre last Saturday morning, and I was promised that an engineer will come to my home to look at the music systems sometime in the afternoon of Sunday. Mr engineer did not turned up last Sunday and I was waiting and just waiting for him for the whole afternoon. Finally I got a call from that fellow at 8:00 p.m. in the evening that he can come in the next hour to our home. I told him, sorry it is too late now, and he should come next Saturday when I will be available.

So I felt happy when I had purchased these 5 new RD CDs, but I am feeling very unhappy that I cannot play them. I could play them in my office PC, but I am little sentimental about new RD CDs. I always play the new RD CD at my home, where I can enjoy them without any interruption. Only after few weeks, I bring them to my office and make mp3 files of all the songs, so that I have a backup of all the RD Burman songs.

Hopefully, the person from Sony will keep his word and will come on this Saturday to fix the music systems. Until then, I have to wait for the Saturday to arrive.

Monday, June 12, 2006

Some Men Never Learn!

Click here to know what happens to them.

Unconscious Mutterings -- Week 175

Unconscious Muttering Week 175

  1. Band :: Aid

  2. Tan :: Sun

  3. Mount :: Unmount

  4. Arcade :: Columns

  5. Customize :: My way

  6. Hamburger :: Hungry

  7. Solid :: Rock

  8. Forbidden :: Sweet

  9. Deter :: Prevent

  10. Torment :: Pain

Friday, June 09, 2006

Cousin Shibani

A few days ago, I had taken a Flight of Imagination, in which I had an imaginary conversation with Kunal Kohli, director of Fanaa. I am taking another flight of imagination. This time I am having imaginary conversation with Shibani Bathija, writer of Fanna, and also my imaginary cousin.

Please be warned that what you read below is pure fiction, product of my imagination, directly from my mind, made up on the spur of moment. Anyting but the truth.

I had deleted Shibani's cell number from my mobile, as ordered by her. But I was surprise to get a call from her yesterday. She had not deleted my number, oviously. Here is what Cousin Shibani said to me on phone:

Me: Hello, who is this?

Female voice: This is Shibani

Me: Shibani who

Female voice: Shibani, your cousin

Me: Oh it is Cousin Shibani. I thought you have told me not to call you.

Shibani: But I never said I will not call you, you idiot.

Me: Yes, you are right. Okay, tell me why you had called me?

Shibani: What newspaper do you read?

Me: I always read old newspapers. Old news seems quite good. The current news is always depressing. I am presently reading newspaper dated April 25.

Shihani: You are really an idiot. Do you read DNA newspaper. It is very good newspaper. They have published my interview in it. Please read and tell me what you think.

Me: I still think Fanaa was a lousy movie.

Shibani: Okay okay. You dont have to say it again and again. Last time you had interviewed Kunal, this time you can interview me. I will answer all your silly questions.

Me: Where do you live?

Shibani: I live in my home (laughs uncontrollably). [After few seconds' pause] I will sent my car over to you. I live just above Hotel Kailash Parbat in Colaba. Yashji is very happy man these days. He has gifted me a new car with a driver and petrol vouchers for a year.

Me: Yes, I know where Hotel Kailash Parbat is. But anyway send the car. It will be fun to come in the car. Which car you have been gifted?

Shibani: It is Toyoto Innova. Listen, you live in Ulhasnagar, so bring 5 kilos of papads and 2 kilos off sev burfi for me.

Me: Okay, I will not bring anything [and I disconnect phone immediately]

So, last evening Shibani sent her driver to me office and I went to her home at Colaba, and this is what I remember from our conversation.

Me: Cousin Shibani, your home is very beautiful. But the most delightful is the aroma of ragda patties coming from the Hotel below. I hope we will be eating patties soon.

Shibani: Thank you Thank you. Forgot about patties. Kailash Parbat makes horrible patties. Have tea instead. It is green chinese tea.

At this point the naukar of Shibani brings tea in the smallest cups I had ever seen, a plate containing 4 Marie biscuits and a glass of water. Now, I was expecting to be fed snacks from Kailash Parbat and have not eaten anything after lunch and as such was feeling very hungary. Words cannot describe your feeling when you expect to be offered Chole Patties, Pakodas etc, but have to eat Marie biscuit. But I had to bite the bullet, sorry Marie biscuit and to ask Shibani my silly questions.

Me: Shibani, tell me why Fanaa had all these silly shayaris? Why were Aamir and Kajol not talking like normal people?

Shibani: You did not like the shayaris? You know writing shayaris is my first love. I consdier myself a poetess. Writing scripts is my fifth love. I will soon be publishing collection of all my shayaris, I will sent you a free copy to you.

Me: Anything free is okay with me, but please do not send me that book.

Shibani: Why why?

Me: I am allergic to those kind of shayaris. After seeing Fanaa and listening to those ghatiya shaires of yours, I had serious skin problem and had red rashes all over.

Shibani: Then I will use more of these shayaris in KANK. Imagine Amitji saying all my great shayaris. Imagine Amitji saying `Kabhi Alvida No Honge, No Honge, No Honge, etc. etc. Did I tell you my latest shayarii which I had written today morning?

Me: Where is the bathroom?

Shibani: Okay, okay, I will not tell you.

Me: Who is KANK? Another cousin of yours?

Shibani: KANK is Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. It is a movie. You are really an idiot.

Me: Oh that is your next picture, isn't it? But before that tell me why you had made the character of Kajol blind in Fanaa?

Shibani: Cousin Raju, the basic story of Fanaa was this: There is a blind girl whom no one likes particularly, except for a boy who loves her madly. The girl's only wish was if she could see, she will marry the boy who loves her so much. One day she is told that a person is donating her eyes to her and she will be able to see after an operation. After the operation the boy request her to marry him, but when she come to know that the boy who loves her so madly is blind, the girl refues to marry him. The boys goes away and after many many years the girl came to know the boy who loved her madly had donated his eyes to her. Isn't it a cute story?

Me: Yes it is. What about Man on a Mission and Kashmir?

Shibani: That was Yashji's idea. He wanted to make two films, one romantic type film and one action film, and combine them together.

Me: And in the end, the film is neither of them. Tell me about KANK? What it is about?

Shibani: It is about life after marriage. KANK is about Shahrokh who is married to Rani, and about Abhishek who is married to Priety. But all four of them are unhappy because they have married the wrong person. After 4 hours' drama and songs and dancing and silly Jhonny Leaver jokes, Sharokh gets to marry Priety and Abhishek to Rani.

Me: (Yawning) Is that all? The story seems very boring.

Shibani: All movies of Karan are boring. After seeing any of his movie, you love your own life more.

Me: What elese these characters do besides thinking that they have married the wrong person?

Shibani: Oh, all four of them are active blogges. Each of them has their own blog. When they are not singing and dancing, they are writing their feelings on the blog.

Me: And what role Amitji plays?

Shibani: Amitji plays the role of Blogmaster.

Me: What is Blogmaster? Near heard of such a thing.

Shibani: Blogmaster is a person who controls other people's blog. I told Amitji if Abhishek can play Bluffmaster you can play the role of Blogmaster.

At this point, the aroma of Chole Pattice was too much for my empty stomch. I somehow wanted to run away to the Hotel below and satisfy my hunger.

Shibani: Did you know Aamir will be producing a movie in which he will be playing role of Chief Minister of Gujarat. He wants to show his love for the people of Gujarat. We have finalized the script and the title of the movie.

Me: Really, what is the title of the movie. Is it Dil Wale Dam Leke Jayenge or Dam Liya Dard Liya,

Shibani: You are really an idiot. It will called either Dam Bhi Tera, Hum Bhi Tere or Dam aur Mohabbatain.

Me: How about Dam -E - Nadaan?

Shibani: Good suggestion. I will call Aamir right away.

Me: It was nice talking to you. I will leave now. Please tell your driver to drop me at the railway station.


Shibani: Take a taxi or bus, the driver has gone to watch Fanaa for the 15th time.

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Crowned & DeCrowned



In the Mrs. World 2006 finale, the wrong girl (sorry, woman) gets crowned! Crying ensues! A child descends from the ceiling! Very funny video.

The newsstory about Mrs World 2006 is here

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Mid-Life Crises

I am in early forties (42 to be exact). Yesterday one of my dear friend pointed out to me that I have visible paunch and I must do something about it. He suggested few simple exercises. Since he is silm and trim (and also few years older than me) he demonstrated these excercises to me. The exercises seems simple enough to do. Well, I have started doing these exercises from today. My friend also advised me to avoid using lift and instead to use stairs. My office is on the 4th floor and my home is on the 5th floor. It will be difficult to break the habit of taking lift, but I will try, honestly to stick to both his advises.

I may be almost at a stage which could be called mid-life. I want to remain healthy. I am really scared of the day when I have to give up certain foods to remain healthy. I pity those people who, under doctor's advise, have to follow the food diet.

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Message In A Bottle




Message In A Bottle: A song by The Police. One of my favourite song.

Love can mend your life but
Love can break your heart ...

Reserved Education of India

The Indian Express reports
Not just IITs, IIMs, AIIMS, over 100 more institutes, public and private, in 27% OBC quota net: from Pune’s Symbiosis to TIFR, Manipal to BITS. Arjun Singh’s latest Bill proposal also asks UGC to fix fees as per quotas, even threatens punitive action
Mere words cannot express my anguish.

Unconscious Mutterings -- Week 174

Unconscious Mutterings Week 174

  1. Fraud :: Scam

  2. Cure :: Happy

  3. Slate :: Chalk

  4. Pretentious :: Fraud

  5. Splendid :: Weather

  6. Geek :: Nerd

  7. Blister :: Painful

  8. Pizza :: Cheese

  9. Revive :: Go back

  10. Visionary :: Ahead of Time

Friday, June 02, 2006

Quote for the Weekend

Some scholars are like donkeys, they merely carry a lot of books. -- Folk saying

Doing My Bit

Since my wife is a working women, meaning she has a 9 to 5 job like me, and in addition has to do most of the household work, I try to do my bit as far as I can in doing the household work to help her. Thankfully her workplace is at a walking distance of 4 minutes 45 seconds from our home. Hence she gets ample time to finsih off the household chores. While I have to travel everday about 4 hours from home to my place of work, so I get less time. But I try, honestly, to do as much I can to help her in running our home.

A thing which I have been doing quite reguarly, in fact once very week, for past one and half year, is something for which I feel little proud of as a husband.

My aunt had expired about one and half years ago and I had to go with my uncle to Nasik to carry out the 10th and 11th day rituals at Nasik. We had stayed at Advani Dharmsaala, as it was very near the river Godavari, where the ritual were to be performed. We had lunch at a outside hotel, but for dinner I told my uncle to try out the dinner made by the dharamsala cooks. So we told cooks to prepare the dinner for two of us. I was curious to know what they will be cooking for the dinner and was told it will be dal chawwal and sabzi of lauki (bottle gourd). Well, like many people I had general dislike for lauki and I was almost regretting our decision. Anyway, the dinner time arrived and we were served dal chawwal and sabzi of lauki. Unwillingly I tried a little of lauki and surprisingly it was very very tasty. I was hooked to its taste and asked for three more helping of lauki. It was that good. This lauki seems to be prepared differently. After finishing dinner, I went straight to the kitchen and shook the hands of the cook who had made the sabzi of lauki. The cook turned out to be a Grawahli Brahamin and was from Nainital. Incidently, I had visited Nainital with my family in the month of May that year. So we got chatting about Nainital. In the end of our conversation I asked him the recepie of sabzzi of lauki. I made him to repeat it twice so that I don't forget any detail.

It is the sabzi of lauki which I have been preparing every week for my family. Right from buying the vegetable, cutting the vegetable to till it is perfectly cooked. Here is the recepie if you are curious/interested or don't believe me. Skin lauki, cut it into small pieces, cut two tomatoes in small peices as also one green chili.Put on the gas burner a kadhai in which you put a spoon of cooking oil, let the oil simmer a bit, then put a small spoon of red chili powder and put into immediately pieces of tomatoes and green chilies, then put two spoons of daniya powder, salt, some halidi powder and stir the mixure for two minutes. Then add the pieces of lauki and again stir it for few minutes. And then cover it with a steel plate so that the entire mixures is covered properly, put the gas burner at the slowest and let it cook for about ten minutes. Now remove the steel plate and put the gas burner to normal burning, add some hara daniya over it, and again stir it for few minutes. The sabzi of lauki is now ready to eat. One can eat it with chapatis. We normally eat it with mixtures of three dals (pulses) which is called Ti-Dali Dal.

Well, this is the bit which I do every week, mostly on Tuesday or Wednesday. In Sindhi lauki is called kadoo. I had become quite an expert in making the sabzi of kadoo. My wife and children seems to like it. And it makes me happy.

By the way, it is my 200th post.